24 Jan 2009

23 Jan 2009

Suddenly lots of moorhen about on the frozen ponds and repeatedly
at site 2 (but not site 1). Also seen up various trees - 'the old
moorhen up a tree ploy' as our expert at Swansea University
nicely worded it some years back when describing them nesting in
trees. We wait and see!

Ref: D3A_20090109_1115_043 fb2 2 Moorhen.jpg

22 Jan 2009

A really cold period has limited the outings of most creatures
to only what is necessary for survival.

16 Jan 2009

Apart from flying overhead or in distant trees we typically see
fieldfares in flocks of 30 to 100 tucking into the windfall
apples that we now deliberately leave for the wildlife. A few
apples moved to a more photographable spot tempted this bird.

Ref: DC1_20090102_1249_081 Fieldfare in Windfall apples.jpg

15 Jan 2009

On a freezing winter day this robin watched us hopefully in the sunshine sheltered from
the wind by a blackberry thicket.
More sense than us then, trudging around in the biting wind.

Ref: DC1_20081228_1034_041 Robin in Blackberry thicket.jpg

14 Jan 2009

Once again a rook is caught in the act of re-arranging the site.
This is the previous occasion from April 2008:-

Followed by the one taken on Boxing day 2008 and show an
amazingly similar stance and technique.

Ref: D3A_20081226_1618_018 fb2 Rook lifting log.jpg

13 Jan 2009

12 Jan 2009

For just a few minutes the sun broke through the clouds luring us outside.
We were lucky that our 'noisy' buzzard chose this moment to make a lazy
flyby against the clouds and a patch of blue. The lack a thermals
provides a more active view than the usual hanging in the updraft.

Ref: DC1_20081221_1053_029 Buzzard in flight (web crop).jpg

11 Jan 2009

We have a bit of a 'thing' about 'sundogs' but this one was
particularly intense and only lasted a minute or two as a streak
in a largely grey sky.

Ref: P34_20081217_1416_178 Sundog to East (web crop).jpg

10 Jan 2009

A magpie nearly filling the width of the frame showing off it's iridescence.

Ref: D3B_20081223_1542_117 fb1 Magpie.jpg

09 Jan 2009

A surprisingly frequent juxtaposition of two mice - one on the
ground eating while another on the log looks down at it.

Ref: D3B_20081226_1743_038 fb1 2 fieldmice (wood mice) (crop 1).jpg

08 Jan 2009

There are now a pair of blackbirds at both photo sites
although it is the males that currently appear regularly.

Ref: D3A_20081219_0738_016 fb2 Blackbird male.jpg

07 Jan 2009

After a long break a fox put in an appearance at one of the good
quality cameras, but the head was partly out of frame at the
left, hence this 'creative' interpretation of the
nose-to-ground investigation of the world in a way
humans can't even imagine.

Ref: D3B_20081219_2111_129 fb1 Fox (crop 2).jpg

06 Jan 2009

Bullfinch in the hedge along the Bridleway to the North of our patch.
The shrivelled remains of the blackberries are still an attraction, and
the leaves seem to have survived the recent frosts.

05 Jan 2009

A squirrel paid a visit to the hawthorn trees (decades overgrown
hedge) near the house and spent 10 minutes after we noticed
gorging itself on berries. In shade & diagonally through a double
glazed window limits the quality, but it was interesting to see.
Notice the Lichen on these old twigs.

Ref: DC1_20081220_1311_242 Squirrel eating Hawthorn berry.jpg

04 Jan 2009

A group of 3 fieldmice (wood mice) are often seen together at this site.
This looks like a picture of a pair until you spot the ear
just showing over the top of the log.

03 Jan 2009

Contrary to popular belief, squirrels don't hibernate but
build a better insulated dray and limit their outings to
short forays on warmer days. This one was picking over the
offerings at about mid-day.

Ref: D3A_20081213_1244_067 fb2 Squirrel (head crop).jpg

02 Jan 2009

Fleeing, playing or whatever we have no idea, but
they do it with huge energy.